Tag Archives: Hydraulic marine cranes

BIGMAX TC cranes are a family of compact and light weight small truck cranes introduced by crane manufacturer Technocrane Inc. in 2005. While initially sold as a general purpose crane for material handling equipment, a wide variety of applications were soon found for this rugged and versatile line of small hydraulic cranes.

BIGMAX TC cranes are capable of lifting up to 5,000 lbs. with hydraulic extensions to 19.5 feet. They are available in hydraulic (PTO) or 12 V DC electric models and are suitable for mounting on 10 to 18,000 GVW trucks.

Ease of operation and safety are two recognized features of BIGMAX TC cranes. All of the models have proportional controls to ensure safe movement and precise placement of heavy objects. Optional radio/wireless controls means one person can safely lift and deliver/place any large object. BIGMAX cranes are covered by an industry-leading two year warranty.

Here are some of the important details concerning the BIGMAX TC line of small truck cranes.

The TC100 is the smallest of the BIGMAX TC series cranes. The crane has proportional controls for all functions including slewing, lifting and extension. There is an extra fourth control function for a hydraulic outrigger or winch. One of the best features of the TC100 is its compact design. It stows completely in just over 2 square feet of deck area. The boom, which extends to 9.2 ft from the centerline of rotation, retracts to only 3.9 ft. This makes it possible to mount the crane in the doorway of a van and swing a load thru the doorway. With the boom in a horizontal position, the TC100 will also lift in an overhead space of only 5.5 feet above the deck surface.

The BIGMAX TC-160 is a versatile crane with an outstanding lift capacity. The TC160 can lift up 2,850 lbs. @ 3.7 ft from the rotation centerline with a static weight of only 385 lbs. This extraordinary lift to weight ratio is at least partly due to the the TC-160 boom which is fabricated from high tensile fine grained steel with a hexagonal cross-section to maximize strength and minimize weight. Another great feature of the TC-160 is that the mounting base of the crane (which takes up less than 1 sq ft of mounting space), can be placed almost anywhere on the body. This maximizes convenience and safety! The remote control assembly which is supplied connected but not mounted can then be installed in the best location near the crane base.

The BIGMAX TC-200 crane has 3 optional hydraulic extensions and a heavy duty enclosed oil-bath rotation system. It is highly reliable and is designed for 15 years of normal use. All BIGMAX cranes, including the TC-200, go through rigorous testing. First, several cranes are manufactured for testing purposes. Before going into production, each model is test run, non-stop (24/7) for the equivalent of 15 years under normal operating conditions. If a component fails during this testing period, the component is redesigned and the test starts again. This process is repeated until the 15 year equivalent test cycle is complete without a problem, and only then does the crane go into production. Technocrane is so confident that BIGMAX cranes are reliable, each crane is delivered with a 2 year limited warranty.

The BIGMAX TC-260 crane can be operated by oil flow from a central, usually PTO driven, hydraulic system. This is the same for all BIGMAX TC cranes. For situations where there is no available oil flow or PTO, or, for more intermittent applications, BIGMAX DC Electric power packs are an economical option. Available in both 12 and 24 volt, DC power packs include a hydraulic pump. For safety, ease of installation and operating convenience, an in-cab power switch is included with each DC operated crane. To ensure safe operation, the power switch must be engaged before the crane can be operated.

Are you looking for a good alternative to a conventional corner mount service crane? The BIGMAX TC-300 has proven itself to be a good option for many service body applications. One of the main advantages is that BIGMAX cranes lift by raising and lowering the boom. This requires a single function operation. In contrast, winch equipped cranes require the activation of two functions, boom up-down and winch spooling. This is a more complicated operation to lift the load. For the few lifting operations, such as lifting a load close to the crane and lowering it into a manhole, an optional boom-mounted winch is available for all BIGMAX cranes.

The TC-350 BIGMAX crane has the longest hydraulic boom reach in its class. It can be extended 19’5″ with 4 hydraulic extensions. Most comparable cranes in this category offer only 3 hydraulic extensions with an outreach of 15.5 feet. The TC-350 has a lifting capacity of 1146 lbs. at the end of the boom. Standard features include a flange mounted counterbalance valve on the main lift cylinder and sequenced boom extensions. Options include a variety of hydraulic stabilizers, a crane base for mounting the crane to the truck chassis and winch.

A standard mounting bolt pattern is one of the features on all BIGMAX telescopic cranes. This feature makes it easy for body builders to plan for the installation of a compact BIGMAX crane. The square bolt pattern also is appreciated by body builders. The square bolt pattern makes it possible to locate the crane base in any one of 4 positions during installation. Body builders or installers can also change the base position later for operator convenience or to easily relocate the slewing stop location.

There are many benefits of choosing a BIGMAX TC crane! For further information visit our website at www.bigmaxcranes.com or call toll free 1-877-531-8644.

Technocrane also produces there own brand of marine cranes and is a distributor of Amco Veba marine cranes. More information can be found at www.technocranemarine.com

BIGMAX Cranes, one of the leading truck crane manufacturers in North America, has announced the launch of a new line of marine cranes to be distributed throughout the United States, Canada, Central and South America.

BIGMAX telescopic cranes and Amco Veba articulated or knuckleboom marine cranes can now be ordered to assist with cargo handling or on workboats used in various industries from commercial fishing and coastal transportation, to towing and aquaculture.

Todd Slobogean, CEO of the parent company Technocrane Inc., says “The Amco Veba and BIGMAX Marine Cranes have many excellent features not typically found in the under 40 t/m class. These features include:

a rugged oil bath rotation system

dual rack and pinion slewing

standup pedestal controls, and

three levels of marinization

In addition, both the BIGMAX and the Amco Veba marine cranes have heavy duty lift cylinders similar to those used on large excavators. The cylinders have threaded steel cylinder heads, rather than cylinder heads held in place with snap rings.”

The larger Amco Veba articulated cranes have a longer reach, higher lift capacity and the benefit of additional boom articulation. The BIGMAX mono-boom telescopic cranes are smaller and less expensive, while still offering the features that make them suitable for harsh marine weather and exposure to corrosive ocean conditions.

Cranes have been supplied to the marine industry by Technocrane since 1990. Their customers include:

Amco Veba Marine Cranes

Canadian Coast Guard

Dept of Fisheries and Oceans

Military Patrol

Commercial vessels

Aquaculture Vessels

Tugboats

Fishing Fleets

Crab Boats

Marine Docks

Fire and Emergency Response Boats

The new marine cranes are considerably different. Slobogean notes, “Generally using a conventional truck crane for a marine application is not the best solution for several reasons. The control valve assembly will have to be raised and relocated and the hoses will need to be lengthened because a truck crane is designed to be mounted on a truck frame.

As a marine crane specialist, Mr. Slobogean has also advised that corrosion proofing on regular truck cranes is not sufficient. Standard industrial paint and piston rod chroming that is adequate for truck cranes quickly deteriorates when exposed to a corrosive marine environment. Furthermore, the slewing systems are not robust or powerful enough to rotate the crane mounted on an unstable floating vessel.